Sources say Universal will restart production on the action franchise on or near April 1, giving the studio and director James Wan almost one year until the film is due to hit theaters April 10, 2015. The remainder of the shoot will last from six to eight weeks, according to insiders. Cast and crew will be called back to Atlanta, where filming had been scheduled to resume after Thanksgiving.

Fast 7 was about halfway finished when Walker was killed in a car crash in Valencia, Calif., requiring its release date to be scrapped and Wan, writer Chris Morgan and Universal to pore over existing footage and tweak the script. Insiders now believe Walker's character can be "retired" -- rather than killed off -- in a way that will allow the franchise to continue. Universal declined comment.